Q1. Will Toyota representatives have access to the card after I sign it?
A1. The cards are returned to the IAM and kept under strict security until the application to certify is filed. They are then forwarded to the Labour Board with the application and become property of the Labour Board. Toyota has no right under the law to see these cards at any time.
Q2. If I sign a Union Card, are we instantly unionized at Toyota?
A2. By signing a card, you will indicate to the Ontario Labour Relations Board that you desire to hold a certification vote. In order for the IAM to file an application with the Labour Board to become your bargaining agent, they have to file with the Labour Board proof that a significant number of employees want to vote on joining the IAM. We urge you to fill out the card. By returning it to us, you will indicate to the Labour Board that you desire a certification vote to authorize the IAM to become your bargaining agent.
Q3. Why join the IAM?
A3. Team Members will have a say in their future.
Q4. Will we have to go on Strike?
A4. 99% of all IAM contracts are negotiated without a strike.
Q5. What about Union Dues?
A5. Team Members of Toyota will have their own Local Lodge and union dues are established by the Local.
Q6. As a woman working at Toyota, how will the IAM address our concerns.
A6. The IAM has an entire department for women’s issues. Offering women’s leadership training, support workplace Women’s Committees, Women’s Conventions and equality for all.
Q7. Who should sign a card?
A7. All hourly Team Members from Cambridge and Woodstock, for example:
- Contact Team Members, Full Time Team Members
- Skilled Trades
- Production Team Members
- Team Leaders
Every team member is welcome to sign a card, negotiating will be done by the team members in each of the above groups regarding the issues pertinent to each of them.
Q8. Who are the IAM?
A8. Over a century ago, in 1890 a group of railroad workers in Stratford, Ontario chose the IAM. Today the IAM, represents approximately 368,000 workers in many diverse industries, having over 5,000 collective agreements in North America. In Canada, the IAM represents more than 40,000 members. The IAM is respected for providing some of the best contracts in the various industries.
IAM Members work at many successful companies such as Boeing, Bombardier, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Air Canada, NASA, Harley Davidson and Rolls Royce to name a few.
As you can see the IAM is a very diverse union, capable of providing professional leadership in areas of Negotiation, Workers Compensation, Health & Safety, Women’s Rights, Pension Planning and Benefits Administration for you the Team Members at Toyota.
Most people in today’s society work under the protection of negotiated contract such as doctors, lawyers, professional athletes, actors, engineers, teachers, CEO’s of corporations. WHY NOT YOU?
Q9. What would happen to the Contract Team Members if the IAM is voted in? A9. The Contact Team Members would all be covered by a Collective Agreement as well as the Full Time Team Members.
Q10. Does the IAM believe in ‘Pattern Negotiations’?
A10. The IAM does not believe in ‘Pattern Negotiations’. The team members of Toyota would have their own Collective Agreement voted on by all team members.
Q.11 I am a card signer of another Union, can I still sign the ‘IAM Blue Card’?
A11. Yes. We would encourage you to sign an IAM card.
Q12. I have been with Toyota for over 20 years and I’m am wondering what benefits this company won’t touch. Can you please tell me what the IAM can do to help protect our Pensions?
A12. An IAM Collective Agreement will provide language to protect and enhance current pension benefits.
Q13. Many Team Members at TMMC are wondering about the time we have spent on contract and if you have ever negotiated in the past to have contract time put back on seniority and pensions? It doesn’t seem fair that you can spend the first 3 or 4 years on contract and have that time not count.
A13. An IAM Collective Agreement will provide language to ensure team members will accrue benefits at completion of a probationary period.
Q14. If the IAM is voted in, what is the first thing that would be addressed?
A14. As IAM members you will determine your own negotiation priorities by surveying ALL team members and draft your own negotiation brief.
Q15. What happens to the working conditions, pay, vacation time, etc. if the IAM is voted in?
A15. According to labour law in Ontario, working conditions for all team members are frozen immediately upon the application for certification by the IAM as your bargaining agent. These working conditions will be the base line for any negotiated first agreement.
Q16. How could Skilled Trades workers expect to be treated fairly as a minority in a production dominated union? What provisions can be expected for equal representation?
A16. The skilled trades would have their own elected representation within the negotiation committee. Those elected will provide the representation to ensure the skilled trades have an equal voice at the bargaining table.
Q17. Could you tell me how the IAM would have handled the recent cutbacks in benefits?
A17. Having an IAM Collective Agreement would ensure Toyota could not arbitrarily alter a negotiated benefit. Team members will have a say in Their Future.
Q18. I have heard that you guys only interested in the massive amount of union dues you would get from Toyota employees and nothing else. Is this true?
A18. Your fellow Team Members have requested our assistance in forming a union. The IAM has been invited to help. As IAM members you will determine your own dues structure.
Q19. If you were voted in, what would it take to vote you out if someday down the road we felt we did not need representation?
A19. An application would have to be made to the Ontario Labour Relations board (O.L.R.B.) to decertify.
Q20. Will the IAM be negotiating for paid lunches in the event that you are successful in the vote? This would be a great way of offsetting the union dues and making it actually really pay to have a union.
A20. Negotiation priorities will be determined by surveying ALL team members.
Q21. Can Toyota close the Cambridge Plant if the IAM gets voted in?
A21. If Toyota used this type of intimidation they would be in violation of the Ontario Labour Relations Act.
Q22. If the IAM is certified as the bargaining agent what training do you provide as far as Union Reps, Stewards, Grievance Procedure, Health & Safety, Women’s Rights and etc?
A22. The lAM is a very diverse union, capable of providing professional Leadership and training in areas of Negotiation, Workers Compensation Health & Safety, Women’s Rights, Pension Planning and Benefits Administration for the team members at Toyota. Your own elected local executive, committees and stewards will benefit from the extensive training the IAM can provide both in house or in a classroom setting.
Q23. I’m interested in signing a card but I want to know why it is necessary to fill in my phone number and address? In the past, I have been subjected to unsolicited phone calls and a visitor at my door from the CAW. I do not wish to discuss work issues during my personal time at home.
A23. The card is for verification purposes. Your name, date and signature are a requirement. Please fill in your contact information if you wish to receive communications to keep up to date on what is being done on your behalf.
Q24. My question is how would you guys deal with a problem that exists at Toyota that affects every person on line … contracts that get hired into “Preferred Areas” in the plant?
A24. Negotiation priorities will be determined by surveying ALL team members and your elected representatives would negotiate these issues. Specific language in the Collective Agreement would be written to address these issues. A vote of acceptance of a Collective Agreement would be taken by all team members.
